Photos: Tonight's sunset was spectacular from all angles

North City viewpoint
Photo by Mike Remarcke

Wednesday night's sunset was spectacular no matter where you live. I turned from 15th NE in the North City Business District, on to NE 180th just in time to get a view of the snow-capped Olympics back-lit by brilliant pink skies. It was stunning.

When west Shoreline gets skies of fire, central Shoreline has every shade of bright pink.

Innis Arden view
Photo by Mary Igl

West side Shoreliners know that the colors constantly shift. The light changes, the clouds move and everything seems different from moment to moment. It's not something you get tired of.

Innis Arden view
Photo by Mary Igl

As the sun goes down, the colors got more intense, turning the clouds black and the sky fire red.

Edmonds view
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Even a few miles up the sound, the clouds are different.

Last of the light in Kenmore
Photo courtesy Northshore Fire Department

The last shot was taken from the fire department training tower in Kenmore. The last of the light shows the reddish orange to the south and the pink behind the grey and black clouds to the north.

 Spectacular no matter where you were.

AG Ferguson updates student loan survival guide

Download the Survival Guide

AG-requested Student Loan Advocate now available to help borrowers

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today released an updated Student Loan Survival Guide, which provides tips and resources for those impacted by student loans, including high school students thinking about taking out student loans, former college students making repayments and parents who cosigned loans.

Among updates to the guide is information about the new Student Loan Advocate at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), a position created by AG-request legislation last year.

The advocate is now available to help student loan borrowers understand the terms of their loans and options available to them, such as loan forgiveness and deferment.

Students can contact the advocate directly by calling (833) 881-0397, sending an email to LoanAdvocate@wsac.wa.gov or visiting the website.

More information on the office’s student loan work is available here.

In The Garden Now…..Red Hellebore ‘Ice N Roses’

‘Ice N’ Roses Red’ Lenten Rose

Text and photo 

by Victoria Gilleland 

About this time of year we’re all starved for garden color. On a recent trip to Sky Nursery I discovered a wonderful display of blooming hellebores.

While many were quite beguiling, the one that beckoned to me was a dark maroon variety named ‘Red.’ 

This little beauty is said to be an unusually long bloomer, flowering from early winter into spring. 

Of course bloom time is dependent on weather and growing conditions in a particular garden.

‘Red’ holds forward facing or slightly up-tilted flowers on stems 12 to 16 inches tall. This is an improvement over many hellebores that have downward facing or nodding flowers that are difficult to see in the garden

Placement of hellebores in the garden is important. They bloom in the coldest months when we are least likely to be in the garden. So they won’t be missed, plants are often placed near paths and entries where people walk. Alternatively they might go into a container or garden bed that can easily be seen from a house window. The photo above was taken with the plant positioned against a large blue pot which provides a wonderful contrasting background for the dark blossoms.

Since our Northwest soils tend to be acidic and hellebores like neutral to alkaline soil it’s a good idea to apply garden lime yearly to keep hellebores happy and healthy. As with other hellebores, old and damaged leaves can be cut to keep plants looking neat and clean. They can be grown in shade to sun, are drought resistant, deer resistant and available for pollinators in the coldest months of the year.

All parts of the plant are poisonous so keep pets and children away from them.

Take a look around your place and see where you might find a spot for one of these winter charmers. If you aren’t a fan of red or maroon, hellebores are available in an array of colors including white, ivory, pink, purple, chartreuse and multi colored blossoms. There’s probably one that you would love to have in your garden!

(Botanical Name: Helleborus x glandorfensis The Helleborus Gold Collection Ice ‘N Roses Series “Red”)

Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 25 years.


She can be reached at vjgilleland@yahoo.com

Monday's Shoreline City Council meeting will study Fircrest Master Plan

The agenda for Monday’s February 1, 2019 Shoreline City Council meeting includes two Study Items. 

(a) Discussing Fircrest Master Plan and Underutilized Property Land Use Options.

Staff is bringing this item to Council to better understand the Council’s preference for the City’s participation in discussions and actions that could lead to land uses, zoning, and/or development of underutilized property at the Fircrest Campus.

The State is interested in maximizing the number of affordable housing units that could be built. City staff has continued to advocate for mixed-market housing, which is reflective of the City’s adopted housing policies. There are various options on how the City can work with the State to address the State’s interests in repurposing portions of the Fircrest Campus.

The location of the Governor’s requested BHFs (Behavioral Health Facility) has not yet been decided but, DSHS expects that the Fircrest Campus could be considered. 

DSHS indicated that if the Fircrest Campus is considered, then DSHS would anticipate that the focus would be on Area 5 (Attachment E) of the Fircrest Campus for either a 16-bed or 48-bed facility. The south-west corner would be the only area on the campus to support a 150-bed facility.

A BHF is a state-owned and state-run community-based mental health facility providing services for clients that currently are (or would theoretically be in the future) served by Western and Eastern State Mental Health Hospitals (Hospitals). The Governor’s proposal would reduce clients in the Hospitals that are civil in nature, leaving the “forensic” cases coming from the criminal justice system and the more complex civil cases at the Hospitals.

Staff report HERE

(b) Discussing the 2019 Federal Legislative Priorities

For 2019, staff proposes a continued focus on funding and support for investments in the NE 145th Street Corridor and the associated I-5 Interchange. This supports our goals for the 145th Corridor, the interchange replacement, a pedestrian overpass serving the light rail station and redevelopment of the station area for housing and economic development.

Comments above are taken from the staff reports available online.

WeatherWatcher: Snowy weather looms, and rain returns

Dusting of the white stuff in Shoreline, December 6, 2009.
Photo by Carl Dinse

Rain is expected to return by Thursday evening, going into the late night hours. With high temperatures Thursday in the low-mid 50's and lows down to the mid 40's, this is going to be a warm day for this time of year. Friday rain is expected to continue, with up to a half inch of rainfall possible and highs near 50°F.

Friday evening the rain breaks off into showers, and that pattern will extend through Sunday. Highs in the upper 40's for the weekend, lows in the upper 30's.

Now to discuss this looming weather, and how it's setting up. That "Polar Vortex" in the midwest is expected to retreat north later this week. Once the Polar Vortex has retreated, it is expected to redevelop over British Columbia over the weekend in a slightly less intense form.

Sunday night this new mass of arctic air slides south over Washington and Oregon. We will not see the severe cold temperatures the midwest saw Wednesday due to our elevation near sea level and our proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

Temperatures Sunday night are expected to dive into the low 30's or upper 20's after midnight, with rain showers turning over to snow showers. Snow showers are in fact possible Monday through Wednesday morning. We are possibly looking at breezy north winds as well during this cold period.

Models for snow this far out are not very good at forecasting accumulations. Right now, and this has been changing a lot, Shoreline and Lake Forest Park could see a dusting to a trace. Places north of Lynnwood appear to expect more snow.

Though the accumulations are inconsistent in the forecast models, the general idea has been consistent for the first time this winter season. We likely will get cold, and should have snow showers in the region. Some models suggest we could see a low temperature in the low 20's or upper teens Tuesday morning, but I'm going to lean towards mid-upper 20's for now.

I will provide updates as we get closer to the weekend when we might have a better idea of where the snow will fall and how much of it will fall.

For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com

Everett Film Festival Friday and Saturday Feb 15-16

The Everett Film Festival is proud to announce an exceptional lineup for its 2019 event, which will take place Friday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave.

Highlights include speeches by two filmmakers/ representatives, an appearance by a guide-dog trainer with a puppy, and the screening of an Academy Award-winning short on an undocumented 15-year-old girl with a hard life and amazing artistic talent.

Featured films with presenters are as follows:

Friday: 

• Pick of the Litter. Rebecca Minelga from Puppy Guides of Snohomish County will bring a puppy in training and discuss her experiences while training one of the dogs featured in this heartwarming documentary.

Saturday:

• Return of the River by Jessica Plumb. A fascinating documentary about the largest dam removal project in U.S. history and the effort involved in making it happen. Jessica is sending a video to update the audience on the Elwha River since the dam removal.
• Intersection by Nicole McMurray, local filmmaker. A narrative short about a conflicted young woman as she waits to cross the street. Nicole will be on hand with her film crew. Filming took place at Everett intersections.
• Take My Nose…Please by Joan Kron. A first film, made when the filmmaker was 89 years old, about cosmetic surgery. Often humorous and at times poignant, it includes interviews and commentary by several well-known female comedians as they contemplate “getting work done.” Joan is flying in from New York to speak to our audience about her film and may discuss her next project.

The festivities will kick off with an opening-night reception catered by Lombardi’s from 6-7pm Friday, followed by the screening of two captivating short films, plus Pick of the Litter. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the screenings end at 9pm.

Saturday will be a full day, with doors opening at 12:30pm and seven screenings beginning at 1pm. At 4:30pm, the intermission will feature Sips and Snacks — a complementary selection of tasty treats from Everett eateries.

The nonprofit Everett Film Festival has been engaging local film-lovers with quality international films since 1997.

Lake Forest Park ranks in top 15 safest cities in the State

Safest Cities in Washington 2019

From LFP Police Chief Steve Sutton

As some of you may know, the Police Department’s Vision is to ensure the City of Lake Forest Park is one of the safest cities in the Puget Sound Region, achieved through the delivery of quality law enforcement services. 

Once again, the National Council for Home Safety and Security has Lake Forest Park ranked in the top 15 in the State of Washington -- not just in the Puget Sound Region -- and third in King County behind Snoqualmie and Enumclaw. That is simply amazing given the demographics and the rankings of our neighboring cities.

Here are a couple of quick facts from our 2018 annual report (to be published in a couple of weeks):

• There were 39 residential burglaries in 2018, down from 50 in 2017 and from 97 in 2014
• There were 3,014 proactive traffic stops even with our staffing issues, which is over 300 more than our seven year average of 2,700
• Officers conducted 1,361 proactive neighborhood patrols, which is again over 300 more than our five year average of 1,034

The Police Department’s annual operations plan has been the key to our success outlining specific performance measures, intense community outreach activities, and coordinated partnerships that has led to our success.

If you would like to find out more about specific objectives in our plan, check it out on our webpage.

The American Legion marks its 100th Anniversary

The cake served at the January 8, 2019 meeting of Post 227
Photo by Jerry Pickard

By Carroll Goering and Jerry Pickard

At 11:00am on Monday, November 11, 1918, the guns fell silent to fulfill the agreement that had been signed earlier at Compiegne, France. The Great War, at it was called at the time, was finally over. The Allies, including the American Expeditionary Force led by General Pershing, had defeated the aggressor, Germany.

It was hoped at the time that it would be “the war to end all wars”, but that hope was dashed two decades later when Germany again attacked her European neighbors. The European neighbors, joined by the Americans, fought Germany again in what became WWII. The original Great War then became known at WWI.

From March 15 to 17, 1919, members of the American Expeditionary Force convened in Paris for the first American Legion caucus. They met again from May 8 to 10, 1919, and adopted “The American Legion” as the official name of a new organization. A draft preamble and constitution were approved. Meeting on June 9, the National Executive Committee adopted the Legion emblem.

On September 16, 1919, The US Congress chartered The American Legion. From November 10 to 12, 1919, the first American Legion convention was held in Minneapolis. The delegates approved the preamble and constitution. They also voted, 361 to 323, to place the national headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis. Indianapolis was chosen over Washington, DC. Finally, the delegates approved a resolution in support of the Boy Scouts of America, support that has continued to the present time.

During its first century of existence, The American Legion worked tirelessly to secure improved benefits for military veterans and created numerous programs to help local communities, especially the youth of those communities. The Legion has accumulated a long list of accomplishments. There are too many to recount in this story but the most important of them can be seen at The American Legion Post 227 website

Today, the American Legion has over 2.4 million members in more than 14,000 posts world wide. The posts are organized into 55 departments, one each for the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. Within each state department are geographic Areas, Districts and local Posts.

The Department of Washington, with 23,599 members, contains 4 Areas, 12 Districts and 160 local Posts. Legion members belong to Posts, Post Commanders report to District Commanders, District Commanders report to Area Commanders, Area Commanders report to Department Commanders and Department Commanders report to the National Commander.

Dept. of Washington Commander Roach speaking at the January 9, 2019 meeting of Post 227.
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Starr Sutherland, Jr. Post 227 is The American Legion local post in Shoreline. The Post building is located at 14521 17th Avenue NE. The post was chartered March, 1948 and was named for First Lt. Starr Sutherland, Jr., who was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII and is buried in Luxembourg Cemetery. Starr graduated from Lincoln High School in the Wallingford area and enrolled at the University of Washington. In 1943, with the war underway, he left the University of Washington to join the Army.

Post 227, along with 12 other Posts, is in District 11 and Area 1 of the Department of Washington. Post 227 meets the first Tuesday evening of each month at the Post building. Post 227 interacts with the local communities in various ways, including sponsoring boys to attend Boys State, hosting pancake breakfasts and a summer BBQ, awarding a Life Changer Award annually to a community member who makes life better for others, and inviting all veterans and visitors to attend Post meetings, which usually feature a speaker discussing some aspect of military life or history.

Most American Legion Posts have a women’s Auxiliary where wives of veterans meet and conduct programs in support of the local Post. Post 227 has a woman’s Auxiliary that was chartered about the same time, March, 1948, that Post 227 was chartered. The Post 227 Auxiliary raises funds in various ways, including distributing poppies each spring in exchange for donations and conducting rummage sales.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Legion began at the 2018 national convention that was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the first American Legion convention.

Local posts, including Post 227, also celebrated the centennial. At their monthly meeting on January 8, 2019 Post 227 invited Department of Washington Commander Gary Roach to speak. Roach spoke about the American Legion and plans for celebrating the 100th Anniversary.

After the Commander’s talk, those in attendance had cake and ice cream. The cake was adorned with 10 candles, one for each decade of the Legion’s existence. As the candles were blown out, the attendees sang “happy anniversary” for the Legion.

The centennial year will conclude at the 2019 American Legion national convention, to be held August 23-29 at Indianapolis, Indiana, the home of the American Legion national headquarters.

Photo: Shy

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

The photo could just as easily have been called "Reflections of a headless duck" but "Shy" will do just as well.

I don't know how Gloria is able to get all these incredible shots but I am very happy that she is willing to share them with us!

DKH

Council appoints Betsy Robertson to Council Position #6; Selects Doris McConnell as Deputy Mayor

Betsy Robertson
Shoreline City Council

After reviewing fifty-three applications and interviewing six applicants, the Shoreline City Council appointed Betsy Robertson to Council Position #6 on January 28. 

Robertson was sworn into office immediately following the appointment. Robertson’s appointment will expire upon the certification of the 2019 general election results in November 2019, as the position will subsequently be filled in the 2019 election cycle. 

Robertson fills the position vacated by former Deputy Mayor Jesse Salomon who resigned from his City Council position after being elected in November 2019 to represent the 32nd District in the Washington State Senate.

Councilmember Robertson has been a resident of Shoreline for twelve years. She received a bachelor in arts in communications from the University of Washington.

Robertson has spent much of her career in local television broadcasting, including seven years as the Director of Communications and Marketing at KING 5. She is currently the Communications Program Manager for the American Red Cross Northwest Region.

Robertson has been a member of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services/Tree Board since 2013 and is an active member of the Ridgecrest Elementary School PTA.

Doris McConnell
Shoreline Deputy Mayor

Following the swearing in of Councilmember Robertson, Council selected Councilmember Doris McConnell as Deputy Mayor. She will serve until January 2020. Deputy Mayor McConnell was first elected to the City Council in 2007 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2015. Her current term expires December 31, 2019.

McConnell has been part of the Shoreline community for over 24 years. She received her bachelors of science degree in psychology from Washington State University.

She served for many years on the Shoreline PTA Council in a variety of capacities including president, secretary, treasurer and vice president at both the individual school and district level. McConnell has also served on numerous Shoreline School District advisory boards and is an active Richmond Beach Community Association volunteer.

As a City Councilmember, she has served and continues to serve locally on the Regional Water Quality Committee, Domestic Violence Initiative and Seashore Transportation Forum as well as nationally on the Human Development Steering Committee and on the APAMO (Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials) board.

Wintergrass Preview 2019 at Edmonds Library

Wintergrass preview at Edmonds Library

The Edmonds Arts Commission and Edmonds Sno-Isle Library present Wintergrass Preview 2019, part of the Music at the Library series, with the Cascade Mountain Boys, Saturday February 9, 2 – 4:30pm in the Plaza Room, above the Library at 650 Main Street, Edmonds.

Featuring hot pickin’ and three-part harmony, the Cascade Mountain Boys, with Mike Faast on guitar and vocals, will perform traditional Bluegrass music followed by a jam. Bring an acoustic instrument and stay to jam with members of the band or just stay and listen.

Learn about music related resources at the library. Information will also be available about Wintergrass 2019 and enter to win a day pass with a Sno-Isle Library card.

Wintergrass is a family-friendly acoustic music festival held in Bellevue Feb 22-24, with concerts, dances, music education programs for kids and adults, workshops, impromptu jams, and a chance to see and hear some great music including bluegrass, gypsy jazz, celtic, old-timey and more.

Reminder: Job and Resource Fair Wednesday Jan 30 at Northshore Fire

The Job and Resource Fair is today - Wednesday January 30, 2019 from 12 noon to 4pm at the Northshore Fire Department, 7220 NE 181st Kenmore 98028.

Several dozen major local employers will be there, including six cities, fire and police departments, utilities, school district, sheriff's department, as well as a few smaller employers.

No cost, no registration, no schedule. Just drop in from 12 - 4pm and talk to people.

LWV presents 2019 Democracy in Action Award to Kristin Kelly

Kristin Kelly

On February 16, the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County will present its 2019 Democracy in Action Award to Kristin Kelly. 

Kristin Kelly is the former executive director of the Pilchuck Audubon Society and its Smart Growth Program. She has worked for sixteen years with Snohomish County local governments to help balance growth with livability.

Through education, outreach, activism, coalition building and advocacy she has contributed to comprehensive land use planning and development regulations to achieve more sustainable urban communities. She has been a champion for protecting our county’s natural resource and rural lands, our air and water quality, and wildlife and fish habitat from irresponsible development.

The presentation will be at the annual League of Women Voters Birthday Luncheon, 11 am-1:30 pm on February 16, at Legion Memorial Golf Club, Greenside Grill Room. Cost is $25 per person.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and after member study and agreement, works to influence public policy through education and advocacy.

Four chaplains presentation at the American Legion Post 227 meeting Feb 5

The American Legion Post 227 in Shoreline will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, February 5, 2019. A meet and greet starts at 6:30pm and the program starts at 7:00pm. Both veterans and the public at large are invited and welcome to attend.

The meeting will be held at Post 227, located at 14521 17th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155. [Behind Goodwill @ NE 145th St and 15th Ave NE]

Post 227 Second Vice Commander John Brady will conduct the Four Chaplains ceremony. The ceremony commemorates the heroic actions of four chaplains aboard the USAT Dorchester when it was sinking in the Atlantic Ocean in 1943 after being torpedoed by a German U-Boat. Also, Post 227 Chaplain Richard Bologna will discuss the duties of the post chaplain. There will be an opportunity for questions after the presentation.

A brief intermission for refreshments after the talk will allow visitors to depart. Post 227 members are urged to stay for the post meeting that will follow the intermission. We hope to see you at the meeting.

While you are at the meeting, you can check out the Post Library that includes a large collection of military related books, video tapes and DVDs. Any of these can be checked out, used and returned by post members and community without charge.

Using Facebook for genealogy - Feb 6 at Sno-Isle Genealogical Society

Free Beginning Genealogy Class on Saturday February 2, 2019 at 10am, offered by the Sno-Isle Genealogical society at their Research Library, 19827 Poplar Way, Heritage Park, Lynnwood. 

This 1hr. drop-in class is for anyone wanting to get organized and start research on their family. For more info call 425-775-6267 Tues, Thurs, or Sat. 11-3pm.

The monthly meeting of the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society is Wednesday February 6 at 6:30pm at the LDS Family History Library, 22015 48th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace.

The brief meeting is followed by a presentation by Ron Sailer on "Using Evernote and Facebook for Genealogy". This includes an introduction to the Free version of Evernote with a live demonstration of how to use it.

Mr. Sailer will also tell how he used Facebook to reach 55 distant cousins in many countries and states, plus how to get the Free PDF of over 6,000 Facebook Genealogy groups. These groups may be just what a researcher needs to find that elusive cousin or ancestor. Guests are welcome to attend. For more info call 425-775-6267 Tues, Thurs, or Sat. 11-3pm.

Notes from Jan 28 Shoreline City Council meeting

City Clerk Jessica Simulcik Smith administers the
oath of office to Betsy Robertson
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Shoreline City Council Meeting 01/28/2019

Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. All Councilmembers were present.

The Mayor proclaimed February as Black History Month. The presentation was given to Darnesha Weary, Director of the North Side Step Dance Team, and team members Mikayla Weary, Mikayla Sullivan, Cedella Dean, Melanie O’Brien and Kieara Johnson.

Report of City Manager

Wednesday, Jan 30, Sound Transit is offering a drop in session from 1pm to 8pm to discuss project refinements to the 145th Corridor BRT. Topics include parking, station locations and traffic lane configurations. It will be held at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church 14724 1st Ave NE. There will be another session in Kenmore the following day, and an online version will be available at the Sound Transit website.

The Edwin Pratt Art Opening Reception was attended by over 100 guests. The exhibition will be open to the public from Jan 26 through April 26, 2019 during normal business hours on the third floor of City Hall.

Public Reminder: The Parks Funding Advisory Committee meeting is Wednesday, Jan 30 at 7PM in Room 303.

Council Reports

Councilmember Chang attended her first meeting of the King County Regional Transit Committee. This was also the first time Shoreline has been part of this Committee. They reviewed their 2019 work plan. Very little is slated to happen in the north end, so a meeting is scheduled with Chang and others to see how changes at Northgate will affect the service in our area.

Councilmember McGlashan attended the Sound Transit Board meeting. The staff was updating the Board on the Lynnwood Link. Utility work is starting, tree removal, an access road along the freeway for the pillars installation, and freeway noise wall demolition and replacement with temporary walling. There will be a Shoreline community meeting with updates on February 26. Location to be determined.

Councilmember Scully provided an update on the All Home Advisory Board. It is in the middle of a governance review of homeless outreach towards a regional approach and a central authority to eliminate some of the duplication of services. Elected officials on the Board, such as Scully, will be removed from the board. He feels this is probably a change for the good.

Councilmember McConnell stated there are several activities this weekend for anyone interested in one more look at the Seattle viaduct and/or the new tunnel.

Mayor Hall said the Council had a dinner meeting tonight with the Parks Funding Advisory Board..

Public Comment

Jon Ann Cruver asks that seniors be involved in the Community and Senior Center planning. Come to us, listen to us, and learn from us, and include us in decision making. The senior population is growing in Shoreline. Recreation, support services, social interaction, volunteer opportunity, and a hot lunch are just some of the activities available. We are Kupuna, a Hawaiian word for grandparent that has much more meaning. Kupuna are those we come from, the ones who have lived before us, and the ones we live for today.

John James spoke in favor of the Senior Center having space in the new Community Center. He has been a corporate sponsor of the senior center over the last several years, and he has been involved in activities honoring and video recording veterans of WWII whose stories might have been lost forever.

Theresa LaCroix requested the new Community Center include a commercial kitchen and a dedicated 6,000 sf space for the Shoreline/LFP Senior Center. In February the Council will be reviewing the Shoreline Aging Well Strategy. This Strategy has five major focal points: nutrition, lifelong learning, wellness, coordinated service alignment (volunteerism), and community connection.

Gloria Kawabori said she took several years to admit that she is a “senior citizen.” And she thought she would never join a senior center - but to her surprise, there are so many classes available that she joined several. She added, it is said that the manner in which a community regards and treats its elders reflects the soul and the heart of that community.

Kathleen Randall says, with all of the construction in Shoreline, it would be a good time to consider underground utilities.

Agenda and Consent Calendar approved unanimously.

Action 8(a) Interviewing City Council Applicants for City Council Position #6.

The candidates were interviewed separately so other candidates could not hear the questions/answers. This prevented any benefit in the order the individuals were interviewed. The Council met at a table with the candidates, rather than remain on the dais. Each candidate was asked seven questions and given about 15 minutes of interview time. The candidate could make a brief comment at the end, if time permits.

These are the questions asked of each candidate:

1. Please share with us why you are interested serving on the City Council and how your experience and skills would make you the best-qualified candidate.

2. Often the City Council must adopt policies to address competing goals. One area that can be challenging is goals to protect the environment and goals to protect an individual’s right to use their property as they would like. How would you balance the goals of protecting the environment and allowing people to use their property?

3. In addition to Council meetings, Councilmembers generally serve on regional committees, attend City community events, and meet with community groups, residences and businesses. How will you balance the time required to serve on Council with other responsibilities, interests and activities that you may have?

4. Can you tell us about a time when you were on a team and you did not like the direction the team was going? What was your response and what did you learn?

5. Please share with us how you have familiarized yourself with the issues that the City Council will be required to address in the next few months, and what are the two primary issues that you believe will be most important for the Council to address. These issues can be from those on the current work plan, Council goals, or any issues you think need to be added.

6. As Shoreline is increasing in diversity, what will you do to be inclusive of our entire population, especially encouraging residents who may not have previously participated in the City’s boards, committees or neighborhood associations?

7. The final question is: If appointed, do you plan to run for election in the fall?

Do you have any comments you would like to add?

Council interviewed Jennifer Greenlee, David Chen, Eben Pobee, Betsy Robertson and Genevieve Arredondo. Rebecca Rivera withdrew her candidacy prior to the Council meeting.

Action Item (b) EXECUTIVE SESSION: Evaluate Candidate Qualifications 
RCW 42.30.110(1)(h)

The Mayor and Councilmembers exited the Chamber to evaluate the candidates.

Action Item (c) Appointing and Oath of Office for New City Councilmember to fill Council Position No. 6

The Mayor announced the meeting was back in session.

Betsy Robertson was appointed to fill Council Position No. 6.

Councilmembers and the Mayor individually expressed the difficulty in making the selection from the group of qualified candidates, stated their appreciation and thanks, and encouraged them to look at other opportunities within the City where they could be a valuable asset.

The Oath of Office was administered to Betsy Robertson by Jessica Simulcik Smith, Shoreline’s City Clerk.

Action Item 8(d). Electing a Deputy Mayor.

Councilmembers McConnell and Scully were nominated. McConnell was voted Deputy Mayor by a majority vote of 4.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05pm.

Letter to the Editor: Include the Senior Center in the new Community and Aquatic Center

To the Editor:

The Senior Center, the School District, the Light Rail coming our way, all colliding in ways we can’t fully grasp right now. This brings concern about the future of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center and its place on the Shoreline Campus.

In November of this year, Shoreline voters will be asked to approve, or not, a proposed Shoreline Community and Aquatic Center.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center seeks dedicated space for a senior center, within the Community and Aquatic Center. The dedicated space the senior center is seeking would be 6,000 square feet plus a commercial kitchen.

By the year 2025 it is believed that the city’s population will be 20% over 65. There will be a continuing need for not only recreational use but a variety of support services that the current center offers to seniors and their families. Many of the seniors in our community who use the center the most can do so despite their modest means: it provides essential services, it provides a place to be socially connected, it provides opportunities to volunteer, wellness programs and so much more. Most important: it provides a place to be: a safe place, a place to meet new friends, a place where people care about one another, a place where you can come every day if you want or just come for certain classes. A place where you know you will always be welcome

Losing a facility serving seniors would be a grave loss to the entire community. We need to be assured that the levy for funding that will appear before the City of Shoreline voters contains items proven essential to senior citizens regardless of income , including the adult children of seniors who will continue to age, even as they care of their aging parents.

Jon Ann Cruver
Shoreline

Reminder: Sound Transit drop-in sessions about Bus Rapid Transit on the SR 522/NE 145th Street Corridor

Route for Bus Rapid Transit from the Shoreline South station
through Lake Forest Park and Bothell to Woodinville

Sound Transit will hold two public drop-in sessions this week about SR 522/NE 145th Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), scheduled to begin operating in 2024.

• Wednesday, January 30 from 1-8 p.m. at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church, 14724 1st Ave. NE, Shoreline
• Thursday, January 31 from 1-8 p.m. at Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Ave. NE, Kenmore

The SR 522/NE 145th BRT will provide fast, frequent and reliable transit service connecting communities from Shoreline to Woodinville via NE 145th Street and SR 522.

The route has nine BRT stations and new parking planned in Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Bothell. It will connect to Link light rail at the Shoreline South/145th Station and to I-405 BRT in Bothell.

Communities are invited to see how the project's station and parking locations are developing.

Sound Transit used community feedback received last fall to help further refine the project to prepare it for design and construction.

The drop-in sessions are also an opportunity to learn about how BRT service could change traffic lane configurations along SR 522 and NE 145th St.

Those who aren’t able to attend an in-person meeting can provide comments through an online open house. The online open house will be open through February 11.

During 2018, Sound Transit evaluated refinements to the representative project approved by voters in 2016 based on technical analysis and stakeholder input. In March 2019, Sound Transit will present the preliminary refined project to the Board of Directors and begin conceptual engineering and environmental review. Construction will begin in 2023, with service anticipated to start in 2024.

WSU President’s Honor Roll Fall 2018

Washington State University in Pullman has released the names of students on the President’s Honor Roll for the 2018 spring semester

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who stand above the rest with excellent academic performance. 

To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

The data displayed in the President’s Honor Roll may be affected by students who restrict the release of some or all information about themselves.

Kenmore

Kristen Jaye Dahlin
James McAdams Hopkins
Bryce William Lane
Sidney del Ray Murphy
Elizabeth Anne Murray
Adrienne Elizabeth Reagan
Alexis Julia Robichaud
Amanda Elisabeth Schmitt
Mahdokht Soltani

Lake Forest Park

Hailey Irene Bouffiou
Jeffrey Evan Lebo
Helena D Matheson
Emilie Suzanne Philips
Sanka Troia

Shoreline

Derek Douglas Baer
Olivia Elizabeth Nelson Brockhaus
Grace Marie Brown
Lauren Nicole Cook
Megan Elizabeth Cook
Josephine Marie Engelhart
Jacob Scott Freeman
Petr Petrovich Gaburak
Jake Arnaud Girard
Haylee Kealohalani Grand
Aaron Winston Khan
David James McLerran
Katelyn Elizabeth Miles
Nicole Sharon Munson
Ilya Stanley Panek
Marina Evangelos Pappas
Jade Ramsay
Maren Leigh Robinson
Sarah M Rosenthal
Hayley Alina Suver
Mitko Stoyanov Tanev
Robin Turner

Betsy Robertson selected as new Shoreline councilmember; McConnell elected Deputy Mayor

Betsy Robertson taking the oath of office

Ridgecrest resident Betsy Robertson was chosen as the newest member of the Shoreline City Council at its meeting on Monday, January 28, 2019.

Doris McConnell was elected as Deputy Mayor.

Registration begins Feb 11 for First Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten

First Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten

First Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten

Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year begins February 11, 2019

Come in for a tour or call for more information.

We are excited to start our 47th year of ministry in the Shoreline/Edmonds Community.

We have classes for 2 ½ years – Kindergarten.

Thursday January 31 – Kindergarten Information Night 6:30 PM

Our Kindergarten is 5 days a week 9 AM – 1 PM

Call Karen Beasley, School Director 206-546-0320 or e-mail preschool@flrb.org

North City Tech Meetup: Alternative Voting Systems

The next North City Tech Meetup will feature Cindy Black of Fix Democracy First on Alternative Voting Systems

Monday, February 4, 2019, 7 - 9pm at the Kenmore Public Library, 6531 NE 181st St, Kenmore 98028.

Free – Open to the public

Alternative Voting Systems: Creating More Representative Government

• How does our current voting system impact voting and elections? 
• What about gerrymandering? 
• Are there solutions and methods to create more representative democracy?

This presentation will explore our current voting system and how adopting alternative voting systems like ranked choice voting and proportional representation could lead to fairer elections and better representation. Hosted by Cindy Black, Fix Democracy First Executive Director.

Fix Democracy First is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in Washington State fighting to improve our Democratic processes, and has been supporting public financing of campaigns, fair elections, overturning Citizen’s United, alternative voting systems, protecting voting rights, and other similar pro-democracy efforts for almost two decades.

Cindy Black is the Executive Director of Washington State’s Fix Democracy First, and committed to helping pass pro-democracy reforms and building an active citizen's movement here in Washington State, through ongoing coalition building, common sense legislation, and civic outreach. 

Cindy was also the Campaign Director for WAmend’s successful Initiative 735 statewide ballot campaign, making Washington the 18th State to call for a U.S. Constitutional amendment to overturn court decisions like Citizens United. She is also the host of Democracy Speaks, a local community radio/podcast program, focusing on important local, state, and national democracy issues, as well as solutions to create fairer and better representation for all.

The North City Tech Meetup is a free meetup, usually the first Monday of each month at one of our local libraries: Lake Forest Park, Shoreline or Kenmore. People of all levels of interest and experience are encouraged to attend. There is always time for introductions and discussions.

You can visit the Meetup.com page for each month’s topic.

Launch party Friday for Northwest Neighbors Network

The vision of the Northwest Neighbors Network is to create vibrant, intergenerational neighborhoods where aging residents get the support they need to stay living in the comfort of their homes, engaged in community life.

Northwest Neighbors strives to provide a thriving network of volunteer and support services, and enrich member's lives with social, educational and wellness activities.

NNN will be open for business on Friday, February 1, 2019. Services are free between February 1st and May 1st for those signing up for a full year.

The launch party will take place at Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta, 18411 Aurora Ave N, from 2 - 4pm on Friday. RSVP to info@northwestneighborsnetwork.org

Contact 206-800-3009

Photos: What's my best angle, you ask

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

What's my best angle? you ask. 

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Surely you jest, photog! I'm devastatingly handsome from ANY angle!

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Even my field guide recites that Wood Ducks "often accommodate close-range admiration”)

King County Library System leads U.S. libraries with digital checkouts for the fifth year in a row

King County Library System leads U.S. libraries with digital checkouts for the fifth year in a row. 

KCLS holds on to its first-place title with a record-breaking number of eBook and audiobook checkouts in 2018

Rakuten OverDrive, a digital reading platform used by KCLS, named King County Library System as the U.S. leader— number 3 worldwide— of its eBook and audiobook downloads.

KCLS had 4,864,178 million checkouts in 2018, a 23% increase over 2017. These circulation statistics illustrate the continued growth and importance of library digital lending.

“We are extremely honored to be recognized as the nation’s top digital-circulating library system for the fifth straight year, and grateful to all King County’s enthusiastic readers, who, every day, demonstrate the value and meaning of libraries in their lives,” said KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum. 

“The greater Seattle area consistently ranks among the most well-read in America, reflecting an educated and tech-savvy population that keeps turning to eBooks and other digital resources our collection has to offer.”

The top 5 titles borrowed through King County Library System's digital collection in 2018 include:

1. Origin by Dan Brown
2. The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
3. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
4. The Midnight Line by Lee Child
5. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

A valid KCLS library card or eCard gives patrons access to KCLS’ online collection, which includes streaming music and films, eBooks, online magazines, research databases, exam-preparation tools, online classes, and much more.

Founded in 1942, the King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest public library systems in the country. Serving the communities of King County (outside the City of Seattle), KCLS currently has 49 libraries and more than 700,000 card holders. In 2011, KCLS was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal. In 2018, residents checked out more than 4.8 million digital eBooks and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive, making KCLS the #1 digital circulating library in the U.S. and #3 in the world.

Insurance Commissioner fines life insurance company $130,000 in December

Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner

Topping the list of fines levies by the Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler in December 2018 was Accordia Life and Annuity Co., Des Moines, Iowa; fined $130,000, order 18-0250

Kreidler received 57 complaints about the company in 2016 and 2017 and started an investigation into its practices. The law violations included:

• Failure to maintain full and adequate records of more than 8,600 customer accounts.
• Underpaid interest on the death benefit of a policy and failed to correct the problem until the consumer complained to Kreidler’s office. State law requires that insurance companies pay 8 percent interest.
• Failed to provide annual statements to 21 consumers.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines in December 2018 totaling $192,050 against insurance companies, agents and brokers who violated state insurance regulations.

Eat breakfast with American Legion on Feb 16

Veterans, Auxiliary members and all members of the community are invited to a pancake, link sausage, bacon and scrambled egg breakfast with coffee, tea, milk and juice, served by the American Legion Post 227.

The breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 11:00am on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the Post 227 building, 14521 17th Avenue NE, Shoreline 98155, (the corner of NE 146th Street and 17th Ave NE.)

The breakfast is being held to allow the post to serve the community while raising money for Veterans and Post activities; an $8 donation per person is suggested. Children under age 8 eat free.

Post members welcome your attendance. All families, friends and kids are welcome! This is a great family gathering.

While you are at the breakfast, you can check out the Post Library that includes a large collection of militarily related books, video tapes and DVDs. Any of these can be checked out, used and returned by community members without charge.

Also, you can learn more about Post 227 on their webpage.

Grace Cole work party Saturday Feb 9 - under new leadership

Happy News!! In this New Year Jim Mead will be taking over as the new person in charge of our Work Parties at Grace Cole Nature Park!

Longtime leader Mamie Bolander will still be on board, but Jim will be Major Domo.

His first work party of the year will be on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 9am to noon.

We had a most productive session on January 19th. Several people worked on eliminating English Laurel, and it is making a BIG difference! That work is likely to continue in February.

There will also be other options, as always. If your passion is pulling Ivy or digging Blackberries, those opportunities still exist! There are even a few chips left to be spread in areas which are being de-weeded.

Please come and join us!

Be sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring a water bottle. Bring your own tools, if you like, or use some which will be available.

Students are welcome. Opportunity for community service credit.

We'll have some snacks, beverages and sandwiches available.

Grace Cole Nature Park can be reached by heading south for about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile onto 29th Ave.NE, from NE 178th St. in Lake Forest Park.

Questions? Call Mamie: 206-364-4410

Sweetheart Dance at Sno-King International Folk Dance Club Feb 23

Folk Voice Band will play for Sweetheart Dance Feb 23

The Sweetheart Dance at Sno-King International Folk Dance Club on February 23, 2019 will honor couples who met at folk dancing - but everyone is welcome!

7:00 pm to 9:30pm at the Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave W, Lynnwood. Dance to live music from Folk Voice Band, with recorded requests at 7:00pm and during the band break.

We invite you to do dances from around the world -- we do couple, no-partner, and set dances, and you don't need to bring a partner. We expect dancers from several clubs.

The Grange has the best (wooden!) dance floor around, and lots of free parking.

Wear an ethnic costume if you have one, or dress like a valentine in reds and pinks. Finger food potluck snacks are encouraged.

The donation for the party is $8.00.

The club also meets every Wednesday from 7:00 pm to 9:00pm, which is all-request night, and Saturday from 7:00-9:30pm, which has a program of dances, plus requests.

Donation for regular dances is $8.00, members $6.00. (annual membership $15.00, or $25.00 for a family.)

Info: 949-646-7082 or dancesnoking@gmail.com

Photo: Captain AntiVirus and the flu bug

The Flu Bug
Photo by Angela Daly of Brier

The flu bug was seen in Lake Forest Park on Sunday. The VW parked at Town Center is part of a viral marketing campaign to promote a test to determine influenza.

The actors are having a good time

The advertising agency has painted cars and hired actors all over the United States to play Captain AntiVirus, drive around and talk to schools, groups, and individuals about the dangers of flu, and the ease of being tested.

According to an article in The Drum,

Quidel, a manufacturer and developer of influenza tests, wanted a way to get more people to recognize the dangers of flu and drive home the fact that they need to take precautions to avoid being infected or seek treatment if, in fact, people feel ill. 

To move the needle, so to speak, the company enlisted the help of an agency that specializes in word-of-mouth campaigns. The campaign is already seeing a payoff, helping change the way the influenza virus is viewed in a way that gets noticed, which includes a batch of VW Beetles and a giant flu virus model.

According to theMayo Clinic, 

"The most commonly used test is called a rapid influenza diagnostics test, which looks for substances (antigens) on a swab sample from the back of the nose or throat. These tests can provide results in about 15 minutes. However, results vary greatly and are not always accurate. Your doctor may diagnose you with influenza based on symptoms, despite having a negative test result."

A Commitment to Inclusion: Meeting the changing needs of Shoreline college students

Dr. Marisa Herrera will speak at AAUW
meeting Feb 9 on SCC campus

Dr. Marisa Herrera, Vice President for Students, Equity, and Success, will speak on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 10am to noon at Shoreline Community College on “A Commitment to Inclusion.”

Dr. Herrera’s position supports the changing needs of college students. She will share her story — how she obtained this position, what she sees as the changing needs of Shoreline Community College students, and how she is addressing those needs.

Meeting and speaker are sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Edmonds SnoKing Branch.

Shoreline Community College, Administration Building #1000, Board Room #1010M, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133.
Parking (free on Saturdays) is available to the left as you enter through the Main Gate. See map for details.

All are welcome. Refreshments served. The event will include a used book sale and raffle.

Questions: Edmonds SnoKing Branch Leadership at aauw.esk@gmail.com

Mission of The American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Peace Circles for Racial Healing: Exploring Racial Identity - Tuesday Jan 29

Join Circleworks for a set of sessions on Racial Healing. Tuesday, January 29, 2019 the topic is Exploring Racial Identity.

Further sessions are scheduled every two weeks through April 23. Individual sessions are $65 and WA State Clock Hours may apply.

Register HERE and contact Dr. Pamela Taylor 206-851-9782 for more information.

Sessions are held at the Davis Building NE 147th Street and 1st Ave, Shoreline 98133.